UNIX or Windows hosting
This question, the answer to which is obvious to the experienced webmaster, can perplex the beginner.
There is a comparison of the two most popular platforms: UNIX and Windows, supported by the vast majority of providers. In addition, we try to dispel some misrepresentations about these platforms.
One of the biggest mistakes among beginners is that one should put a site on that platform which was used for development, i.e. if you are supposed to put the project on a server under UNIX then it is mandatory to build it on a machine that also uses UNIX. This is not an absolute truth. The Operating System with which you work on the computer while creating a site can be any.
Convenience in using a hosting platform
During the last few years, vendors have put their best effort into making site administration easier for both UNIX and Windows clients. Today there is no difference between these platforms in relation to ease and simplicity of use. If you are a sophisticated user and prefer to use a shell, select UNIX. However, if you are a beginner, you will find an easy to use control panel with web interface on both platforms.
Accommodation reliability
Experts agree that UNIX is more reliable. However, my personal experience with maintaining 3 years of IIS 3.0 under Windows NT 4.0 shows that the reliability of a Windows platform can closely approximate UNIX. To a much greater degree, reliability is influenced by the professional level of the service personnel. It means that you can make a solution on a choice of platform, considering other differences in the features of the platforms first.
hosting speed
There is no essential difference between these two platforms with regard to speed in resolving hosting issues.
hosting functionality
It is the factor in which the two platforms differ the most. But there may be tasks performed on one platform that cannot be performed on another. The main difference is: how to arrive at this result. For example, if your site uses a database, you can use PHP/MySQL under UNIX or ASP/MS SQL under Windows. The development trend of solutions that will be supported on both platforms is tracked. For example, Microsoft FrontPage is compatible with both UNIX and Windows.
lodging cost
Here UNIX at the moment differs favorably because, firstly, most software products under UNIX are released under free licenses, and secondly, it is much easier to achieve the same level of reliability and efficiency on UNIX as it is on Windows. .
If you definitely do not plan to use technologies and solutions that are supported only by a Windows platform (see below), it most likely makes sense to select the UNIX platform.